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Mesopotamia The Land Between Two Rivers Uruk known in the Bible as Erech (now Warka) \ Uruk was Mesopotamia's and the World's first city Timeline Mesopotamia was ruled by four different empires Sumerian 3,500 BC – 2,300 BC Akkadian 2,300 BC – 1,900 BC Babylonian 1,900 BC – 1,300 BC Assyrian 1,300 BC – 612 BC Geography Mesopotamia is a Greek word meaning between the rivers Ancient Mesopotamia was located between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers Most of Mesopotamia was located in present day Iraq The hot dry climate was mixed with seasonal flooding from the rivers http://www.wsu.edu/~wldciv/brians_syllabus/maps/map labels1.html l Mesopotamia (Land of Firsts) Mesopotamia is known as, “The Cradle of Civilization,” because it was first in many things: First to invent the wheel First to use sails on boats One of first to make up a story (Gilgamesh) First to use cuneiform (writing) First to use the calendar First to use the seeder plow First to give a number place value and recognize the concept of zero Agriculture (The Fertile Crescent) Farmers turned the land into a rich food growing area by using irrigation and the plow Farmers grew wheat, barley, dates, and other vegetables and fruit They raised goat, pig, sheep and cattle Irrigation created a surplus of food which led to the growth of cities Surplus led to a flourishing system of trade Economy The Mesopotamian plain was lacking in resources such as metals, timber, stone, and grapevines, so the Sumerians had to trade abroad to get them At first, the Sumerians traded surplus barley for these goods Later, the Sumerians began to manufacture trading goods that they could transport more easily, such as cloth and bronze ornaments The Mesopotamians made written contracts, loans and created a credit system They used a barter system Trade Routes The Beginnings of Writing The Sumerians were very good farmers. They raised animals such as goats and cows (called livestock). Because they needed to keep records of their livestock, food, and other things, officials began using tokens. Tokens were used for trade. Tokens Clay tokens came in different shapes and sizes. These represented different objects. Advancement With the development of cities came a more complex economy and more complex social structures. Language Mesopotamians were the first to use writing (around 3,000 BC) The system of writing was called cuneiform Cuneiform was wedge shaped symbols pressed into clay tablets The Mesopotamians wrote many myths The most famous was the epic poem called Gilgamesh Writing allowed people to keep records of their transactions People could send messages with couriers to far away lands without traveling Writing allowed people to pass on their accumulated knowledge to future generations Cuneiform Tablets Cuneiform “Wedge” The earliest form of writing dates back to 3300 B.C. People back then would draw "word-pictures" on clay tablets using a pointed instrument called a stylus. These "wordpictures" then developed into wedge-shaped signs. Religion The people of Mesopotamia believed in many gods Each town was protected by its own, unique deity or god The temple, the center of worship, was also the center of every city Around the year 2000 B.C., temple towers called ziggurats were built to link heaven and earth Political structure an early form of democracy Frequent wars led to the emergence of warriors as leaders Eventually rise of monarchial system co-operation was the basis of government Followed leadership of god of the city which was interpreted by a council of leading citizens > or > priests > or leader of the city (ie. king) Government The Mesopotamians had written laws that everyone in the empire had to follow There were 282 laws created by King Hamurabi Known as Hamurabi's Code, the laws were written in stone and placed in a public location The Mesopotamians believed the gods called the king to establish justice and order; whoever disobeyed the king disobeyed the gods Social Organization & Daily Life The King held military powers. The Governors governed the territories of the kingdom. They were generals and judges at the same time. The aristocracy were priests and traders. The peasants worked the land. Sports, games and entertainment were part of their everyday life Boxing and wrestling were popular sports Board games were also popular The kings were famous hunters of lions, elephants, ostriches, wild bulls Harps and lyres were played Hammurabi’s Laws Divided society into 3 classes: Nobility Commoners Slaves Rules for marriage and divorce. Women had to accept as well as parent permission with dowry. Protected welfare of women and children Sumerians “Land of the lords of brightness” social, economic and intellectual basis Irrigated fields and produced 3 main crops (barley, dates and sesame seeds) built canals, dikes, dams and drainage systems develop cuneiform writing invented the wheel Abundance of food led to steady increase of population (farm, towns, cities) first city of the world Developed a trade system with bartering: mainly barley but also wool and cloth for stone, metals, timber, copper, pearls and ivory Individuals could only rent land from priests (who controlled land on behalf of gods); most of profits of trade went to temple However, the Sumerians were not successful in uniting lower Mesopotamia Akkadians Leader: Sargon the Great Sargon unified lower Mesopotamia (after conquering Sumerians in 2331 BCE) Established capital at Akkad Spread Mesopotamian culture However, short-lived dynasty as Akkadians were conquered by the invading barbarians by 2200 BCE Babylonians KING HAMMURABI’S BABLYON • Babylonians reunited Mesopotamia in 1830 BCE • central location dominated trade and secured control • YET AGAIN, Mesopotamia was not unified for long… (6th Amorite king) who conquered Akkad and Assyria (north and south) He build new walls to protect the city and new canals and dikes to improve crops Economy based on agriculture and wool / cloth individuals could own land around cities Artisans and merchants could keep most profits and even formed guilds / associations Grain used as the medium of exchange > emergence of measurement of currency: shekel = 180 grains of barley; mina = 60 shekels Mina was eventually represented by metals which was one of first uses of money (but it was still based on grain) Hammurabi’s Legacy: law code 10th century BCE, Assyria emerged as dominant force in the north City of Assur- became important trading and political centre After Hammurabi’s death, Babylon fell apart and kings of Assur controlled more of surrounding area and came to dominate Made conquered lands pay taxes (food, animals, metals or timber) Rule by fear as kings were first to have a permanent army made up of professional soldiers (estimated 200 000 men) Made superior weapons of bronze and iron iron changed lifestyles in Mesopotamia in weapons and in daily life ie. replaced wooden wheels and applied to horse drawn chariots • Assyrian reunited Mesopotamia and established the first true empire • However, states began to revolt and ONCE AGAIN, Assyrian Empire collapsed by late 7th century BCE • By 539 BCE, Mesopotamia part of the vast Persian Empire (led by Cyrus the Great) • Persian Empire dominated for 800 years until Alexander the Great Mesopotamian Banquet Gilgamesh Gilgamesh is an ancient story or epic written in Mesopotamia more than 4000 thousand years ago Gilgamesh is the first known work of great literature and epic poem Epic mentions a great flood Gilgamesh parallels the Nippur Tablet, a six-columned tablet telling the story of the creation of humans and animals, the cities and their rulers, and the great flood ANALYSIS Gilgamesh and the Nippur tablet both parallel the story of Noah and the Ark (great flood) in the Old Testament of the Jewish and Christian holy books Modern science argues an increase in the sea levels about 6,000 years ago (end of ice age) the melting ice drained to the oceans causing the sea level to rise more than ten feet in one century Art Art Who was the best? Sumer Closely tied to environment Irrigation techniques for farming wheel Trade- bartering Writing- cuneiform Religion tied to government as priests and kings made decision for gods ziggurats Babylon Production of food through farming Private ownership of land vs ownership by the gods Developed mathematics and calendar system and system of units for currency Hammurabi’s law code Assyria Kings conquered lands to create empire of Assyria Cooler climate could produce crops with little irrigation Deposits of ore allowed for development and use of iron Assyrian army became most effective military force